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Hot Rods history/traditional 6-71 blower setup

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 38nailhead, Mar 1, 2015.

  1. 38nailhead
    Joined: Aug 17, 2014
    Posts: 195

    38nailhead
    Member
    from England

    Ever since joining the HAMB my want to build traditional has just grown, so small blocks have turned to nailheads and I now have a big itch for one with a 6-71 , but a period correct if that's the right way to put it. As I don't just want to buy a weiand kit ( I know you can't for a nailhead ) and bolt it on top, I want the correct details. So if anyone could give me any advice as to when they started to use 6-71's on hot rods or to do with the setups back then I would really appreciate any help given....especially if it includes any photographs .
     
  2. aaggie
    Joined: Nov 21, 2009
    Posts: 2,530

    aaggie
    Member

    Do some research on the subject starting with 1960s Hot Rod magazines. Nailhead pioneers like Tommy Ivo are still with us and could probably fill in some information. It's just a sad fact that when you stray away from the normal (SBC) path that things get very expensive in a hurry.
     
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  3. 51box
    Joined: Aug 31, 2005
    Posts: 1,099

    51box
    Member
    from MA

    71 series detroit (GMC) was around before the war, so it dates the nailhead by a mile. Although I don't have a date of the first one on a hot rod, I'd imagine it wasn't long after the war was over.
     
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  4. 38nailhead
    Joined: Aug 17, 2014
    Posts: 195

    38nailhead
    Member
    from England


  5. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,942

    squirrel
    Member

    Depends on what your idea of "back then" is. you could buy a complete Buick Cragar 4-71 kit by 1961, probably earlier.

    [​IMG]

    If you want it to look like something from the mid 50s, it's probably going to be a one off hand built setup.
     
  6. Freaky1
    Joined: Mar 25, 2013
    Posts: 85

    Freaky1
    Member

    A Street and Drag GMC Blower Kit for $300?? Ohhh to live back then!
     
  7. Actually the 4/71 was more popular on the streets than the 6/71. the 6/71 was popular with racers back into the '50s but street wise you saw a whole lot more 4/71 setups than you did 6/71 setups.

    Take a look here for a clean setup from @GOATROPER02 .

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    He is casting the manifolds and etc from what I understand.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2016
  8. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    The first use of a 71 series blower on a hot rod is usually credited to Barney Navarro on his lakester which ran at the dry lakes in the late '40s and was featured in Hop Up Magazine in 1951:

    [​IMG]
     
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  9. GearheadsQCE
    Joined: Mar 23, 2011
    Posts: 3,375

    GearheadsQCE
    Alliance Vendor

    $300 in 1960 = $2413.51 today
     
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  10. bigboy308
    Joined: Feb 7, 2007
    Posts: 144

    bigboy308
    Member
    from Merlin, OR

  11. Deuces and mad mikey like this.
  12. Most of the first set ups available for purchase for a manifold and blower on top of engine were chain drive. Like Howard's-
    Plenty of home brew drives too.

    The weiand swing arm set up came about in 1962. They reproduce it brand new and it's the same external look but improved bearing, bushings and seals.

    Also -
    Check out Don Montgomery's thread here on the Hamb. There's some great pics of the very early Gilmore style drives.
     
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  13. seb fontana
    Joined: Sep 1, 2005
    Posts: 8,444

    seb fontana
    Member
    from ct

     
  14. Nope sedan and I don't have any friends. LOL :D
     
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  15. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,264

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    All of the crusty old codgers out here and back East have warned me off of Potvin setups for the street. Each has claimed throttle response issues. I am not sure if they are just parroting the same bad advice, or if there is something to it.

    I have room in the nose of my A for a 4-71 or 6-71 Potvin setup.
     
  16. I like the look of the twin and triple belt drive set ups.
     
  17. GearheadsQCE
    Joined: Mar 23, 2011
    Posts: 3,375

    GearheadsQCE
    Alliance Vendor

    I'm really contemplating a chain drive on my 4-71. Don't try to talk me out of it unless you have 1st had experience with chain failure.
    I would really like to put it under a Howards chain cover.
     
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  18. 340HilbornDuster
    Joined: Nov 14, 2011
    Posts: 1,985

    340HilbornDuster
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    2 INCH BLOWER DRIVE...!

    I found a setup w. three extra belts....on the bay....96% drive gears.
    Getting harder to find!
    You can eaasily make one of a 3inch drive...(Looks really close!)
    Not sure how to cut a reinforced rubber belt straight...?



    Howards chain cover is VERY COOL TOO!
     
  19. rod1
    Joined: Jan 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,324

    rod1
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Bruce,Did you read J .Ukrops J.J. entry yesterday?Thought you might like it...
     
  20. GearheadsQCE
    Joined: Mar 23, 2011
    Posts: 3,375

    GearheadsQCE
    Alliance Vendor

    I like the idea of a sidewinder. Maybe someday after all the other projects are done!

    Does anyone know if the repop Howard's chain cover could actually be used if a guy made the rest of the chain case?
     
  21. Freaky1
    Joined: Mar 25, 2013
    Posts: 85

    Freaky1
    Member


    Ohhhh, chain drive......someone has been reading my mind!! They do look cool & I'm sure they are noisy as hell, I'm also willing to be they are kinda hard to find. I'd really really like to have one on my 401 / 471 setup.
     
  22. mgtstumpy
    Joined: Jul 20, 2006
    Posts: 9,214

    mgtstumpy
    Member

    Stumbled on this a while ago and the bottom one was on E-Pay and for a nailhead

    blown_3.jpg Nailhead chain drive.JPG
     
    exterminator likes this.
  23. The lag from a Potvin setup is a lot like Turbo lag, minus the spooling problems. You can overcome it pretty much entirely by setting it up blow through rather than draw through. The lag is still there because of the distance of the of the boos source but it will be negligible.

    If you recall a few months back I was asking if you could run mechanical injection blow through instead of draw through, I had a potvin style setup in mind when I was asking.
     
  24. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,341

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    Chain drives have a lot in common with tunnel rams, in that guys that have no first hand experience and know nothing about them just LOVE to give advice about them...:D
     
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  25. I have first hand experience with chain failure. Chains give up the ghost like any other type of drive. Unlike a belt that have to be lubricated, when they come apart unlike a belt the pieces are like pieces of shrapnel from a claymore. They eat torque on a blower that is already consuming torque you can ad the chain to the diet.

    That said they give it up in the cool factor and sprockets are readily available of you know where to look and have access to a lathe. I would not run a straight chain like some of the old timers did I would run one with an idler. I personally am an incessant tinkerer but I think I would still run my idler spring loaded, more to engineer than one that you adjust by hand but one less think to adjust constantly and with a chain you will be adjusting constantly.
     
  26. Texas Eli
    Joined: May 28, 2012
    Posts: 40

    Texas Eli
    Member

    Hopefully these can give some ideas...
    IMG_20160428_112850.jpg IMG_20160428_112903.jpg IMG_20160428_112918.jpg IMG_20160428_112922.jpg IMG_20160428_112930.jpg IMG_20160428_112934.jpg IMG_20160428_112949.jpg IMG_20160428_112953.jpg IMG_20160428_113003.jpg IMG_20160428_113007.jpg IMG_20160428_113018.jpg IMG_20160428_113021.jpg
    Eli
     
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  27. Freaky1
    Joined: Mar 25, 2013
    Posts: 85

    Freaky1
    Member

    I remember seeing the bottom one on Ebay and that water pump is not for a Nailhead, not even close. Although I like the cover, but I'd have to modify it because I know enough about chain drive things that I'd have a tension roller something on that chain.
     
  28. choppedtudor
    Joined: Nov 28, 2009
    Posts: 722

    choppedtudor
    Member

    chains.jpg If one chain-drive is good...TWO is twice as good.
     
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  29. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,264

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Might still need a couple of injectors upstream of the blower, or have the rotors and the case Teflon coated.

    Otherwise there is a risk of galling the rotors and seizing the whole thing.
     
  30. Jim verden
    Joined: Oct 1, 2020
    Posts: 3

    Jim verden

     

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